Just like Monday, Forest City used another a strong pitching performance from Matt Nadoski and some early offense to down the Catawba Valley Stars 8-2 Thursday night at McNair Field. Nadolski struck out six batters and gave up four hits in the win.

“Nadolski threw a great game tonight in just his second start,” said acting manager Chris Torgersn. “He really looked comfortable out there and it’s always nice when the offense can get some early runs.”

Forest City exploded for five runs in the first inning sending nine men to the plate in the outburst. John Kennedy led off with a walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly. The Owls then loaded the bases before Lucas Owns rolled a two-run single through the left side for a 3-0 lead.

Daniel Burmudez followed with a broken-bat single that brought in two more runs to cap the scoring in the frame.

After Erick Davis garnered a sacrifice fly to put Catawba on the board, Hunter Bryant returned the favor scoring Colin Forgey with a sacrifice fly of his own to restore the five run advantage at 6-1.

Nadolski found his strikeout pitch in the third, striking out three batters in the inning to keep the visitors off the scoreboard. The Owls used a Catawba miscue to add another run in their next at bat. Carl Wise came home when catcher Dylan Yankle fired a ball in centerfield trying to throw out Nick McQuail trying to steal.

The Stars were in a giving mood again in the fourth. Kennedy led off with a single and two errors later, he was crossing home as the lead grew to 8-1 at press time.

Both teams settled down and the game sped up considerably. TJ Sutton replaced Nadolski on the mound after sixth inning and worked a clean seventh and eighth, striking out three batters in the process. The Owls bats also went quiet in the latter innings as Forest City faced a different pitcher in seemingly every inning during the last portion of the contest. As a result, Forest City kept their 8-1 lead heading in to the ninth.

In that final frame, Lind came to the mound and ran into immediate trouble. A walk and an error put runners on second and third with no outs. Lind recovered to strikeout pinch hitter Colby Bessette before Geren Albury delivered a RBI double to make the tally 8-3. Austin Grier followed with a RBI groundout. Lind settled down and struck out Ben Lott to end the game at 8-4.

Nadolski picks up the win for the Owls. Shane Murli took the loss for Catawba

Forest City returns to action today as they travel to face Gastonia before returning to McNair on Saturday to do battle with Asheboro.